The Symposium on International Automotive Technology (SIAT) 2026 event in Pune provided clear signals on how upcoming vehicle launches and market growth in India are likely to evolve over the next few years. While the event was technical in nature, its emphasis on validation, safety, and digital engineering offers an important context for OEM product pipelines, launch timing, and volume scalability, particularly in the Electric Vehicle (EV) segment.
Organized by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), a leading automotive testing body in the country, the symposium underscored that the Indian market is shifting from early-stage rollouts toward structured, compliance-led expansions, with direct implications for model cadence and market projections.
Source: GlobalData (<em>Global Hybrid & Electric Vehicle Forecast, Quarter 4 2025</em>).
Source: GlobalData (Global Hybrid & Electric Vehicle Forecast, Quarter 4 2025).
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) remain central to automakers’ strategies, but discussions suggested that the next wave of launches will be more disciplined and platform-driven than earlier efforts. Focus areas such as battery safety, inverter durability, power electronics localization, and functional safety compliance indicate that manufacturers are engineering EVs for higher-volume deployment, rather than limited or city-specific rollouts. This supports expectations of a gradual but sustained increase in BEV launches across Compact SUVs, Crossovers, and fleet-oriented models through the medium term.
The prominence of simulation, digital twins and virtual validation also points to shorter development cycles and improved launch predictability. As automakers rely more heavily on digital engineering to reduce physical prototyping, product programs are likely to move from concept to production more efficiently, supporting a steadier launch cadence rather than clustered, incentive-driven releases. For market projections, this suggests more consistent year-on-year volume growth rather than sharp spikes.
Noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH), safety, and structural reliability featured strongly, reinforcing the view that upcoming models—especially in mass-market segments—will prioritize refinement and durability alongside cost. This is likely to improve customer acceptance and residual values, supporting repeat demand and longer model life cycles—key assumptions that underpin medium-term market forecasts.
Beyond BEVs, hydrogen and alternative fuels were discussed largely in a research and standards context, suggesting limited near-term impact on Passenger Vehicle launch volumes. However, continued work on testing frameworks indicates that OEMs are keeping optionality open for the next decade, particularly for Commercial Vehicles and niche applications. As such, hydrogen is unlikely to materially alter short-term market projections but remains relevant for long-term scenario planning.